Cushioning mechanism



Aug. 25, 1953 G. F. vAlA T AL v 2,650,087

CUSHIONING MECHANISM' il A Patented Aug. 25, 1953 Couch,Buifa1l'o, iN.; Y., assignors lto 'Theismington-Gould iCorporation,2Depew,.N. Y., :a corporation of Maryland IClaims. 1

, A "j''l'fisf invention: pertains: to a 'cushioning mechlan'isinv and more particularly v'to al type thereof jsuitable :for 'association `with .fa group of bolster supporting springs in a railwaytruckj An object of the inventionfis theA provision of anv improved cushionin'gumechanism wherein a plurality` of shoes are urged radially 'by a Vplurality of fsm-ms..

. 'Aifurther object -vision of an improved cushioningmechanism for use in a railway truck and "whereinrawconstant ...ffictieriallelueis develoeed. during. 'expansive ariddn haislfn1 19115.15. thermtYi01115i"an fimrgved. whip, ne mechanism wherein ltorsion springs '-larebjemployed vto urge shoes radially into frictional contact with `a 'invention will 'become 'apparentM-romgthe suc- 'ceeding descrptiontakn into coins'ijderation with an exempter@rom-d iheiviiion@maratea by `the accompanying 'drawing wherein,

. .Figure .1. 1S. a Vertial Sestierlaliiew 0f an improved cushioning rrrechansrn 4enrib'odyirig 'the presentfinvention. A, A

v Figure 2 fis a horiz@nta-l lsectional*View taken along 'the lines I'LL-'2 fof Figure looking in the direction `of :the arrows.,v

before assembly -with related portions thereef.

A Referring'-nowiindetail to tl1e drawingV -wherein Alike Vreference fc'haracters des'ig-natelike parts, the.=nume'ral I is employediinJa-somewhat igen- -eral mer1ner,..to indicate :a =cushioning .mechanism characteristic `of Ethe present invention The descriptive. term fcus'hiening mechanism is used hereinabove. in :a-:somewhat -general- Asense and, as .will be appreciated by thosefskille'd in the 'artito `which this invention apperta'ins, this descriptive fterm :is synonymous with cushioning unit,y snubberfor friction unit, any of @whichmay `be )hereinafter.employed to designate the-:struc- 'ture :ofthe .present invention.A 'The l'smib'beris primarily "designed to 'be 'interposed between a bottom 'surface fof a bolster ier r-loadjcarrying member designated byl fiigamiiratic une v 2 Figure `1` 'and a top 4surface "of the vside frame member vdesignated by av-diagrammatic 'linee 'in-'Figure 1. `Fliese-two fsurfaces fare vertically spaced Y"and therebetween, Vincon'ibination with the friction unit, are "a 'plurality of 'coil springs (not shown? to carry or support yi'eldably 'the bolsterfon the sidel frame. `As is well known, the 4snubber 'having fa period of vibration diier- Y'ent 'than 'that 'of the :accompanying coil "springs,

the Iassemblage will'form' y'a xnon-harmonic group -exceeding-ly'desiralcile in that the vibrations of the assemblage'will not synchronize withvperiodic 'impulses to--1which Athe vassemblage will be subjected in service. v

i The cushioning unit has atop Vorouter .mem-

"ber -or -sleeve 1l formed 'by a crowned` roundcap 5 arranged to bear against and 'rock relative to `the bolster bottom surface.L `"Ihec'ap has -a centralized, shouldered, instanding'collar 6 projecting inwardly of theiunitl The collar is desirably annu-lar `or circular `in-con`guration and extending thereab'out'fandtherefrom is 'a cylindrical, tubular-casing 'or shell-3l which projects axially ofthe-unit l-for an appreciable distance an'd'pre- 'sent-sl an inner,- cylindrical rubbing or friction face 8 for the -purposeftofbe madehereinafter apparent. It is desirable to form the casing and the'ca'p -as two -sepa-ratecomponents since during assembly of these two Yparts `the `shell may Veasily yand possibly Ymore vaccurately -be "arranged in true `axialalignment oft-he unit. Various vmeans may v'be employed-tosecure or fasten these two s leeve 'parts together and toward this end it is preferred -to 'scarfor 'out V'the upper extremity of thel shell -on a-s`loping line `Sl 'so that a well will be f'ormedffor the -deposit or presence of a continuous jweldfl'. e e f Associated with the sleeve are ra plurality of Vshoes lII :presenting-anassemblage or nest of -cylindrical :format-ion and each having -a segmental, vertical, `outer brushing or friction face 'lf2 in--'completebearingrelationwith a -coex- 'tensive Ior contiguousportion o'f the shell or sleeve rubbing-face Each shoe has a lower -foot or outstanding iledge' f3 -extendingradially out- -wardly beyond avertical-or downward extension of the sleeve, rubbingface. The feet off the multiple lshoe-'assemblage presents an interrupted shelf uponwhich bears a ringer annular mem- 'ber I4 with the latter-having -therein a continuousci-rcular vundercut t5 to accommodate the ishoe'feet.' Since =*the friction unit will, in service, lbe ysubjected 1to compressive forces a yieldable means isfinterposed betweenthe sleeve and shoes jso Lasito 1,resist the `compressive `forces and 'extend the unit. Such a yieldable means 'is incorporated in the unit and is characterized by a coil or helical spring I6 extending around the shell in spaced relation thereto and bearing, at its opposite ends against the sleeve cap and shoe ring.

As previously stated the shoe assemblage is multipart and it is preferred, but not believed essential, that the number of the shoes be limited to three counterpart components. The portion of each shoe which carries the outwardly eX- posed brushing face may, for the sake of conn venience or clarity, be classied as a stem or stad Il and, as will be now apparent or obvious, any relative vertical movement of the shoes and sleeve will result in the creation of frictional retarding forces on the mating, brushing and rubbing faces. Many arrangements or means present themselves for the purpose of urging the shoe stems or staffs radially into constant bearing relation with the sleeve, however, in this instance, it is preferred to employ force or shoe actuating means of a number equal to the number of shoes employed. This phase o the construction is to be considered as an illustration only and not as a limitation. The force imparting means provided in the present structure is a plurality of springs I8 and more specifically classified as torsion springs because of the torque action thereof. In line with the above thought, the torsion springs are three in number and are arranged centrally of the unit in vertically spaced relation with the axes thereof in parallel relation with the axis of the unit. Each torsion spring is formed of a central winding or coil i9 terminating at its opposite ends in angularly disposed, re-entrant, legs 2B which function as end terminals of the central winding. The legs are preferably parallel and are arranged in outward spaced relation to the central winding. Also the legs of each torsion spring are extended in opposite directions since they emanate from the same central winding and they are preferably of a length equal to the axial length of the central winding so as to present members of appreciable length for the purpose to be made hereinafter apparent.

Each shoe stem is divided into a plurality of vertically arranged compartments 2l-in the instant structure three compartments-and the compartments of the related shoes form vertically arranged cages 22. The compartments of each shoe stan" are defined by inwardly directed circular ribs 23 which are suitably spaced vertically along the inside of the shoe stem. Accordingly, a torsion spring is positioned within each cage and is retained in a vertical or predetermined elevated position by the ribs forming barriers against which the legs may come into contact for preventing a vertical shifting of the torsion springs from illustrated position. Because of what may be considered as a toggle action of the torsion springs each shoe compartment is provided with a bed or concave seat 2Q disposed centrally of the compartment and directed vertically between related or adjacent ribs. These beds or seats are for the accommodation of the spring legs and when the torsion springs are stressed as clearly illustrated in Figures l through 4 as opposed to the showing of Figure 5, the seat and leg associations not only prevent a turning movement of the torsion springs but also result in a centralized, concentrated, radial force urging the shoes radially into frictional engagement with the sleeve. Each torsion spring, having only two terminals or legs but in a cage formed by three horizontally aligned compartments, is arranged to act only on two shoes and, as clearly illustrated by Figures 2 through 4 of the drawing, adjacent torsion springs have one leg each acting upon only one shoe in common, while the other leg of each torsion spring acts upon the other two shoes.

By way of further explanation the three mated shoes are designated by the characters X, Y and Z and the three torsion springs by the characters A, B, and C. One leg each of springs A and B act to urge only the shoe Y radially while the other leg of each of these springs acts upon the shoes X and Z. In like manner a leg each of springs B and C acts upon the shoe Z while the other legs of these springs act upon the shoes X and Y and so a leg each of springs A and C acts upon the shoe X while the other legs of these last named springs act upon the shoes Y and Z.

Generally considered, therefore, while one torsion spring may act only upon two adjacent shoes the assemblage is such that all o'f the torsion springs considered together act upon all of the shoes to expand the shoes radially into frictional contact with the sleeve.

From the above, it will be noted that various changes and alterations may be made to the illustrated and described construction without departing from the spirit of this invention or scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes arranged to frictionally engage said sleeve, spring means extending between said sleeve and shoes for urging them apart axially of said unit, and a plurality of torsion springs within said shoes, each of said torsion springs having a coil portion and end portions outstanding from said coil portion, said coil portions being spaced from and said end portions engaging said shoes for urging the latter radially of said unit into frictional engagement with said sleeve.

2. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a multipart shoe arrangement extending into said sleeve, spring means acting axially of said unit for urging said sleeve and shoe arrangement in opposite directions, and a plurality of torsion springs each having ends outstanding from a coil portion thereof, said torsion springs acting on said shoe arrangement entirely through said ends for urging said shoe arrangement into frictional contact with said sleeve.

3. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, spring means urging said sleeve and shoes in opposite directions axially of said unit, and a plurality of torsion springs each having outstanding legs extending substantially parallel to an axis of said unit and bearing against a pair of said shoes for urging the latter into frictional engagement with said sleeve.

4. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means outwardly of said sleeve for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, a plurality of torsion springs having coils spaced vertically from one another, and each coil having radially spaced legs directed substantially parallel to an axis of said unit and bearing against a pair of said shoes for urging the latter into frictional engagement with said sleeve.

5. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means outwardly of said sleeve for urging said sleeve and shoes apart Iaxially of said unit, a plurality of torsion springs within said shoes; each torsion spring having a coil with an axis parallel to an axis of said unit, and each coil terminating in oppositely directed legs bearing radially against a pair of said shoes for urging the latter radially into frictional contact with said sleeve.

6. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means outwardly of said sleeve for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, a plurality of torsion springs within said shoes and having coils in vertical spaced relation, each torsion spring coil having oppositely directed legs bearing against a pair of said shoes for urging the latter into frictional contact with said sleeve.

7. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means outwardly of said sleeve for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, a plurality of torsion springs within said shoes and having axes substantially parallel with an axis of said unit, each of said torsion springs having a coil with oppositely directed legs bearing radially against a pair of said shoes for urging the latter into frictional Contact with said sleeve.

8. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means outwardly of said sleeve for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, a plurality of torsion springs within said shoes, each torsion spring having a coil with an axis parallel to an axis of said unit, seats in said shoes, and reentrant legs on said coils bearing radially of said unit against said seats for urging said shoes into frictional contact with said sleeve.

9. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means outwardly of said sleeve for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, a plurality of separated torsion springs within said shoes and having axes extending longitudinally and vertically of said unit, each 6 torsion spring having -a coil spaced inwardly of said shoes, and terminal legs formed on each coil and in bearing relation with adjacent shoes for urging the latter into frictional contact with said sleeve.

l0. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means outwardly of said sleeve for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, a plurality of separated torsion springs within said shoes, each torsion spring having a coil spaced inwardly of said shoes, terminal legs on each coil and bearing against related shoes for urging the latter into frictional contact with said sleeve, and means on said shoes for holding said torsion springs separated axially of said unit.

l1. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, and a plurality of torsion springs within said shoes, said springs being separated axially of said unit and each of said springs bearing against a different pair of said shoes for urging -said shoes into frictional contact with said sleeve.

12. In a cushioning unit, the combination of, a sleeve, a plurality of shoes extending into said sleeve, resilient means for urging said sleeve and shoes apart axially of said unit, and a plurality of torsion springs within said shoes, each of said springs acting on a different pair of said shoes for urging said shoes into frictional contact with said sleeve.

GEORGE F. VAIA. GLENN F. COUCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 138,433 Quirk Apr. 29, 1873 152,398 Middleton June 23, 1874 1,185,434 Peycke May 30, 1916 1,834,054 Fremaux Dec. 1, 1931 2,233,396 Blattner Mar. 4, 1941 2,402,571 Olander June 25, 1946 2,523,479 OConnor Sept. 26, 1950 2,525,976 Tillou Oct. 17, 1950 

